From Savannah.
Harriet A. Jacobs
FROM The Freedmen's Record, January 1866, p. 3-4.
We arrived here on the 15th. Mr. Eberhart came on board the steamer, and advised us to go to Atlanta, as there was great suffering: both white and black men living with nothing but the bushes over their heads. He said there was no suffering in Savannah. They had nineteen schools, principally sustained by the colored people. I told Mr. E. that our Society wished me to look around in Savannah, and see what the condition of the freedmen was. I went on shore, and obtained board with a very nice colored family. My first visit was to the hospital for freedmen and refugees, in charge of Major Augustus, colored surgeon in the army. This hospital was the city poor-house. It is a large building, and will accommodate three hundred patients. The doctor is faithful in the discharge of his duties, but has very little to work with.
The Bureau is poor. We have to depend on our friends to assist us in relieving the wants of these poor creatures. I brought clothing with me, and immediately set the convalescents to work, and soon had a change of clothing for all the women and children. With the doctor's permission, my daughter opened a school in the hospital on the 20th. She has a large room, with fifty-five pupils, white and colored. There are six schools in the city. Mr. Bradley is fitting up one of the slave-auction rooms to open the seventh. Col. Sickles has commenced the erection of an Orphan Asylum and Old Folks' Home. My daughter has applied for the situation of matron in the Asylum. I expect to take the Home.
The colored people in Georgia are mostly poor compared with those in South Carolina. The free colored citizens here were allowed to buy and sell slaves, but not allowed to own real estate.
We shall be badly off when the military protection is withdrawn.
HARRIET JACOBS.
